Quoting a highly placed member of Kuchma's administration, Itar-Tass said Kuchma and Yeltsin would also discuss restructuring Ukrainian debt to Russia, establishing a free-trade zone between the two states and the future of the Black Sea Fleet.
Kuchma, 55, was elected president last July on a campaign for closer ties with Russia, including greater economic cooperation within the CIS. His more cooperative stance, in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor Leonid Kravchuk, has seemed to bring a new warmth to Russian-Ukrainian relations.
Yeltsin's meeting with Kuchma comes amid a flurry of preparations for the next Commonwealth of Independent States summit, set for Feb. 10 in Kazakhstan's capital Almaty.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Yeltsin in Moscow on Friday to sign several accords. Kazakhstan and Belarus have now both signed agreements with Russia on a customs union, free trade and convertible currencies, starting a fast-track league within the CIS. Nazarbayev said Monday that Ukraine would also likely join.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.